This weekend
- Laughter on the 23rd Floor: The Limelight Theatre has opened the Neil Simon play "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," which will run through Oct. 22. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 reserved and $13 general admission. For reservations, call 825-1164.

Incumbents should be ousted
Lest we forget: Jim Bryant, District 5 and Pal West Howell, District 1, are running for another term for St. Johns Board of County Commissioners.

Put Meiszer to work as a commissioner
On Tuesday Oct. 3, there is a very important Republican runoff primary for county commissioner in District 1, between Nick Meiszer and Pal Howell. Howell, while he has been in office these past 3 1/2 years, has voted to approve in excess of 5,680 additional residential housing units in the northern part of the county alone, this despite a 1996 campaign pledge that said: '' Residential development must be controlled.''

We've got it good when it comes to fuel
My name is Alex Puma and I'm in the Air Force stationed in the U.K. about an hour or so from London. This is to let everyone know the fuel crisis is over. It was insane over here for the last couple of days; you couldn't get fuel and the stores were running out of fuel. I think the lesson that the British and Americans should learn from this is not to go insane when something like this starts.

Teens shoot each other with same gun
NEW ORLEANS -- Two teen-age boys shot and wounded each other with the same gun during a fight at their middle school Tuesday after someone slipped the weapon to one of them through a fence, authorities said.

Military leaders say combat readiness in jeopardy
WASHINGTON -- The nation's military leaders told Congress on Wednesday that American troops are in danger of losing their war-fighting edge unless the next president adds tens of billions of dollars to the defense budget or adopts a less ambitious agenda for using the military in hot spots around the world.

Freeh, Reno defend gov't case against Lee
WASHINGTON -- FBI Director Louis Freeh told Congress on Tuesday that prosecutors could have sent scientist Wen Ho Lee to prison for years but agreed to let him plead guilty to a single charge out of fears atomic weapons secrets would become public at a trial.

Images of sun may help solve mystery
NEW YORK -- New, detailed images of the fiery arches of gas in the sun's outer atmosphere might help solve a decades-old mystery: How can the atmosphere be so much hotter than the sun's surface?

House passes domestic violence bill
WASHINGTON -- A long-stalled bill renewing landmark federal programs for victims of domestic violence passed the House on Tuesday after President Clinton accused lawmakers of treating the measure like a political football.

New colorectal cancer drug improves survival
In the biggest advance against end-stage colorectal cancer in 40 years, researchers have found that combining a new drug with the standard ones can more effectively slow the cancer and prolong victims' lives slightly.

Democrats prod GOP on minimum wage hike
WASHINGTON -- Democrats in Congress prodded congressional Republicans Tuesday to pass legislation raising the minimum wage, at the same time accusing them of trying to use the issue to strip some workers of their ''overtime protections.''

Bush adjusts message, heads east
LOS ANGELES -- It was 70 degrees as George W. Bush campaigned in California on Wednesday, focusing on education. It was barely in the 50s in Wisconsin where he'll be on Thursday, talking about fuel prices.

House OKs stopgap spending bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- With the two parties mired in budget disputes and a midnight Saturday deadline looming, the House easily approved a stopgap measure Tuesday that would keep federal agencies functioning for six more days.

Picture imperfect: Kodak shares plunge
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Shares of Eastman Kodak Co. slid 25 percent Tuesday to their lowest level in more than six years after the world's largest photography company warned it will fall short of third-quarter earnings projections because of an unexpected falloff in demand for photography products.

Poll: Hillary Clinton hits 50 percent for first time
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Clearing a psychological and statistical hurdle, Hillary Rodham Clinton has hit the 50 percent support level for the first time in her Senate race against Republican Rick Lazio, according to a statewide poll.

Bush predicts close finish
LOS ANGELES -- George W. Bush said Tuesday that recent swings in the polls point to a ''really close race'' against rival Al Gore and that he is eager to go ''toe to toe'' with him next week in the first televised debate.

West Nile claims first death this year
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- An 82-year-old New Jersey man has become the first person in the United States this year to die of the West Nile virus, Gov. Christie Whitman said Wednesday.

Gore on MTV: You can call me Al
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- The introduction for Al Gore's MTV appearance made him older than he really is. But it also celebrated his motorcycle-riding youth when he ''even smoked the herb.''

Prosecutors call Lee plea bargain best choice
WASHINGTON -- Letting scientist Wen Ho Lee leave jail on a plea bargain was the best way to recover missing nuclear secrets, prosecutors insisted Wednesday, but that failed to persuade senators to drop their criticism of the government's handling of the matter.

Hollywood admits to lapse in judgment
WASHINGTON -- Hollywood executives on Wednesday admitted efforts to market violent films before audiences that included children as young as 9 years old. Questioned by angry senators, a Sony executive called the practice a lapse in judgment.

Texas inmate is executed
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- A condemned man who won an unprecedented reprieve from Gov. George W. Bush for DNA tests that only confirmed his guilt was executed Wednesday for killing his 12-year-old stepdaughter.

Stewart plane had previous pressure problems
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Learjet that carried golfer Payne Stewart to his death last October -- probably after losing cabin pressure -- had previous problems with its cabin pressure system, maintenance logs show.

Gore takes GOP to task over Medicare
ALTOONA, Iowa -- Winifred Skinner won kisses -- three on the forehead, two on the cheek -- from Al Gore Wednesday for her tale of making ends meet with the recycling-center nickels she gets for soda cans picked from the roadside.

Biotech corn pulled from marketplace
WASHINGTON -- The developer of a gene-altered variety of corn linked to a massive recall of taco shells is stopping sales of the seed until the government approves its use in food.

Gene is linked to type 2 diabetes
NEW YORK -- A previously unknown gene appears to influence the risk of developing diabetes, particularly in Mexican-Americans, researchers say.

Attorneys general join forces in tire probe
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Attorneys general from 39 states and Puerto Rico are jointly investigating how Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford Motor Co. handled the recall of 6.5 million tires, the tiremaker says.

Census data show poverty rate down, incomes up
WASHINGTON -- The poverty rate in America dipped last year to 11.8 percent, the lowest point in 21 years, while median household incomes reached a record high, new Census Bureau data showed Tuesday.

N.Y. moves to solve thousands of rape cases
NEW YORK -- Trying to clear thousands of unsolved rapes, New York City has contracted with three DNA labs to analyze evidence before the statute of limitations on the crimes runs out.

Consumer confidence rose in September
NEW YORK -- Consumer confidence was stronger than expected in September despite higher energy costs, though analysts were divided over what the effect might be on holiday sales.

D.C. mayor opposes Reagan monument
WASHINGTON -- The mayor of the nation's capital is cool to the idea -- backed by the Republican Congress -- of building a monument to Ronald Reagan on the National Mall, which he called crowded enough.

Tri-county war against drugs
As in any war, the battle must not only be fought in the trenches, but in clean, well-lighted places, where people walk around in suits and ties, and where behind the next office door might be a jungle of marijuana plants.

Thefts
- A 1998 Chevrolet Camaro was stolen from a business in the 500 block of State Road 16 Monday night. The $24,000 car has a Florida tag of DSO-26X.

For the record
Cheney due in Jax for barbecue
The public is invited to join Dick Cheney, U.S. vice presidential candidate and former U.S. secretary of defense, for a barbecue lunch and rally at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. For more information, call GOP HQ at 829-0045.

It's been a gentleman's race so far for sheriff
Both St. Johns County Sheriff Neil Perry and his Democratic challenger, the Rev. Ron Stafford, are respected lawmen with many years of experience, who hate drug dealers and have strong abilities as administrators.

Teen arrested after making up report
A 17-year-old Fruit Cove boy was arrested on charges of filing a false report to law enforcement Tuesday afternoon at Bartram Trail High School, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Youth care worker punched
A 15-year-old Jacksonville boy was arrested on charges of battery on a youth care worker Tuesday after punching a Hastings Youth Academy worker in the mouth and stomach, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Man hurls lewd remarks at students
A 25-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning for making sexual comments to female students at Flagler College, according to St. Augustine police.

Rockabye babies
The 30-second lullaby that Flagler Hospital patients hear over speakers every time a baby is born holds special significance to hospital anesthesiologist Dr. Semih Ulben.

Stolen goods found on man
A 38-year-old St. Johns County man was arrested Monday afternoon after a deputy found him lying on a sidewalk in Flagler Village with a bag containing alcohol next to him, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Martha Pellicer
Graveside services for Martha ``Mike'' Pellicer, 72, St. Augustine, who died Sept. 24, 2000, in Flagler Hospital, will be held at 10 a.m. today at San Lorenzo Cemetery.

John Masters
Funeral services for John E. ``Gene'' Masters, 75, Tallahassee, who died Sept. 24, 2000, in Tallahassee, will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Elkton. Burial will be in San Ambrose Cemetery.

Paul Kontis
Funeral services for Apostolos ''Paul'' Adam Kontis, 12, St. Augustine, who died Sept. 23, 2000, at Shands Hospital, Jacksonville, from injuries sustained after he was struck by a car, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Craig Funeral Home chapel.

Walter Drill
Memorial services for Walter Loyd Drill, 84, St. Augustine, who died Sept. 22, 2000, at St. Luke's Hospital, Jacksonville, will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Episcopal Church of the Reconciliation.

Miracle on the mat
SYDNEY, Australia -- Lake Placid becomes Sydney. A sheet of ice yields to a shiny rubber mat. One magical night it is a group of thrown-together college hockey kids; 20 years later it is the Wyoming farm boy they once called Fatso.

Team Savannah brings back more luggage
SYDNEY - The luggage Team Savannah took to the 2000 Olympics was packed a long time ago, bags jammed with the clothes, equipment and personal belongings for a month in Australia.

Stewart plane had previous problems
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Learjet that carried golfer Payne Stewart to his death last October -- probably after losing cabin pressure -- had previous problems with its cabin pressure system, maintenance logs show.

Yanks still can't clinch title
ST. PETERSBURG-- Jose Guillen, Ozzie Timmons and Fred McGriff homered Wednesday night as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays once again prevented the Yankees from clinching the AL East, beating New York 11-1.

Drugs cast pall over track events
SYDNEY, Australia -- The drug taint at the Olympic track has become so suffocating that when an injured Gail Devers dropped out of the hurdles, one of the first questions she faced was whether her withdrawal would arouse drug suspicions.

Braves ride Burkett to win, clinch NL East
NEW YORK -- The Atlanta Braves clinched the NL East to win their record ninth straight division title, beating the New York Mets 7-1 Tuesday night behind John Burkett's pitching and Chipper Jones' home run.

Jones on track to dominate Games
SYDNEY, Australia -- Marion Jones looked cool as a cucumber, sitting on a bench in the bowels of the Olympic Stadium and slowly pulling on her warmup clothes.

'Noles remain class of ACC
Shortly after Ron Vanderlinden was hired to reinvigorate a floundering Maryland football program after the 1996 season, the former Northwestern assistant offered a bold challenge.

IOC: Hunter's reaction to positive test is typical
SYDNEY, Australia -- Top IOC officials ridiculed the doping defense of world shot put champion C.J. Hunter and accused the United States of being in a ''state of denial'' about the problem of performance-enhancing drugs.

Man pleads innocent in bottle-throwing
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man imprisoned in the death of his newborn son pleaded innocent Wednesday to a charge of interfering with police after a friend allegedly threw a bottle at Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker.

State seeks funds for storm damage
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Gov. Jeb Bush Wednesday asked for federal disaster relief to help pay for an estimated $15.5 million in damages Tropical Storm Helene dumped on Florida last week.

Jurors award $20m in nursing home case
ST. PETERSBURG -- A jury Wednesday awarded $17 million in punitive damages to the estate of a Georgia man who went hungry, dehydrated and unkempt in a nursing home then run by a nationwide chain.

Fantasy 5 payouts
TALLAHASSEE -- Four first-prize winners of the ''Fantasy 5'' game will collect $37,102.87 each, the Florida Lottery said Wednesday.

Instructor, student die in Naval air crash
PENSACOLA -- An instructor and student were killed Wednesday when a training plane based out of Pensacola Naval Air Station crashed near Silverhill, Ala., a Navy Spokesman said.

Second suspect identified in Panhandle death case
MCDAVID (AP) -- A second suspect has been identified and a murder charge against a first reduced in the April 1999 death of a man whose body authorities believe they have recovered from a shallow grave in the Florida Panhandle.

She has a ball
DELRAY BEACH (AP) -- Call her the Grandma Moses of ballroom dancing. Dorothy Waterman discovered the activity when she was 80, bored of bridge and unable to play the golf she used to enjoy.

Counselor sought on new molestation charge
BIG PINE KEY -- Authorities were searching for a former Florida Keys camp counselor accused of fondling two boys in his care to arrest him on new charges he allegedly molested a third youngster.

Fujimori loses support
LIMA, Peru -- In the turbulent wake of his former spy chief's escape to Panama, President Alberto Fujimori lost his slim majority in Congress on Tuesday as lawmakers defected from his ranks.

Blair: Test of leadership is saying 'no' to protest
BRIGHTON, England -- Contrite about the collapse of his government's popularity but defiant toward the fuel protesters who caused it, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday the test of leadership is ''how you explain why you're saying no.''

Novelist Jeffrey Archer charged with perjury
LONDON -- Best-selling novelist and fallen politician Jeffrey Archer, whose public life has been a series of cliffhangers, was charged Tuesday with perjury, just hours before his stage debut in a production of his new play ''The Accused.''

Flood survivors hungry and desperate
NEW DELHI, India -- Floodwaters continued to rise Tuesday in West Bengal state, and an aid worker said some stranded people were so hungry and desperate that they were jumping from treetops into passing relief boats.

Fewer activists than expected storm IMF, World Bank meetings
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Unleashing a fresh round of fury against economic globalization, 5,000 protesters marched on the IMF and World Bank summit Tuesday, throwing firebombs, sticks and rocks at police who responded with clubs, tear gas and water cannons.

Israeli settler convoy bombed in Gaza
NETZARIM JUNCTION, Gaza Strip -- Two roadside bombs exploded next to a convoy of Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, a settlement leader said. Channel 2 television reported two soldiers were wounded, one seriously.

German truckers hold go-slow protest
BERLIN -- Thousands of truckers staged a decidedly German protest against rising fuel prices Tuesday, lining up peacefully to block Berlin's central thoroughfare in a demonstration nothing like the chaotic protests elsewhere in Europe.

Attorney general closes case against Netanyahu
JERUSALEM -- Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a chance at a political comeback Wednesday when Israel's attorney general refused to prosecute him on corruption allegations.

Former CIA agent testifies at Lockerbie trial
CAMP ZEIST, Netherlands (AP) -- A CIA spy testified Tuesday that two Libyans kept bricks of explosives in a desk at Malta airport for at least two years, until a few weeks before Pan Am Flight 103 blew up, killing 270 people.

62 die in crash of Greek ferry
PAROS, Greece -- Greek authorities on Wednesday arrested the captain and four crew members of a ferry that struck a rocky outcrop marked by a light beacon that could be seen for seven miles. At least 62 people were killed.

Milosevic declares a runoff
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Slobodan Milosevic conceded Tuesday that his challenger finished first in Yugoslavia's presidential election and declared a runoff -- defying demands at home and abroad that he step down.

200,000 Milosevic opponents rally in Yugoslav capital
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- More than 200,000 joyful opponents of Slobodan Milosevic swarmed the capital's downtown district Wednesday, supporting an opposition claim of an electoral triumph over the Yugoslav president.